Creating Keepsakes Blog

...no name technique. Seriously have no idea what to call it. So, thus rendered confused, just watch the video!:)

Supplies Patterned paper: SEI and My Mind's Eye; Rub-ons: American Crafts and Cosmo Cricket; Stamps: Papertrey Ink; Ink: Close to My Heart and Papertrey Ink; Punches: Fiskars and EK Success

Lots of fun going on here with mjenne's layout. The primary colors are the perfect foil for the kraft background and inky edges. And how about that photo count? Not to shabby for a double page layout. Got a lot on there.

Promised to show you the other places we have the Effektiv cabinets in the house. Having recently moved, we've had to repurpose/reconfigure them to fit our new space and needs. A good opportunity to see how "scrapbook storage" can be used elsewhere.

Always have had hanging cabinets over our mutual desk. In the new house, we've decided (OK...maybe I decided and Matt just did what I asked) to hang just a row and use the space above for a big shelf. In the townhouse, just imagine having a second row directly over the first. I thought with the tall tower units that we needed to free up some visual space, so I didn't want the second row hung. They will end up in the basement somewhere in Matt's shop.

I also had two units in my old office (different from where I scrapped). Held all my camera equipment, magazines, and scrappy books. Don't have room for them in the new family office, so they are being stored in a spare bedroom for now. When the time comes, I'll use them in a kid's room to hold books and toys. I imagine they'll take quite the beating-a good use for extra stuff that didn't cost a lot of money in the first place. And as you can see, things are still VERY VERY transitional around here. Finally got the last of our stuff out of the townhouse this weekend. This upcoming weekend marks the start of "Garage Sale Prep and Clean Up the Clutter Month". Baby steps. (Literally...ha!)

Joscie asked how Matt and I were enjoying our shared space. It's really 90% mine, 10% Matt's. He's got a chair and desk space, the rest is all me. We've always shared a desk area, so used to that. Ask me how it is sharing a bathroom and a closet for the first time, 'cause that's been more of a transition! (I hear him griping at least twice a day about my hair in his sink). We have over double the house, but some things we've had to consolidate for practical reasons. I really don't feel we should have separate offices, even if we do have the space. Because, you know, when do you start drawing the line? Separate offices today, you're going to need a bigger house tomorrow. This place is plenty big and we'll be here until we're empty-nesters, so making the effort now to create all the growing room we need, even if it means we have empty rooms for a while.

And as our family grows, the family office will become just that on a daily basis, instead of the Mecca of Patterned Paper like it is now. I can clear a space for a kid's drawing table, got room to put a couple of stools to belly up to the work table. Have really made the conscious effort to see the long term plans for the storage/office furniture and bought accordingly. Not just for papercrafting.

Yep, and those shelves over my cutting station are the same shelves that housed the stamps from a few months ago. Still makes me happy to see that stamp shelf everyday.

You saw it here folks first. I predict this layout by Nicole S is going to get published. Everything about it is executed with style.

I've gotten a couple questions about my cabinet system. Wasn't ignoring you. Just didn't feel like my room was up to par yet. Truth is, still isn't. But I could wait months for that to happen and probably will. We're just going to do it anyway. Imperfect as it is. What the heck! While we're at it, we'll make this week "Scrapbook Room Week" here on the blog and I'll show you everything. :)

About five or six years ago, Matt and I invested heavily in the Effektiv system at IKEA. Relatively cheap, very versatile, lots of options. Originally got three of stacks of the modular units. You see two together in the photo. The third didn't make it through the move intact. Which really got me hot under the collar there for a couple weeks. They've updated the line since we bought it (they've got these fab daisy print glass doors now...JEALOUS!)and I don't think we can get replacements for the cabinets that we lost.

Ended up working out for the better. The third is across the room and down to two modular units stacked on top of each other. (Hank says hello btw). It's waist height now for me and I moved all my cutting tools over there. It not only serves as storage, but it's my cutting station. Really nice not to have my main work space cluttered up with my rulers/mats/trimmer. Just have to walk a few feet to cut something. That's probably a real good thing too--keeps me moving. Totally worth the sacrifice.

Two paper cubes from Target can fit in each unit with the doors closed. And I've got two of the 3 drawer units. Decided that each one is assigned a specific manufacturer that I have a lot of and it all goes in a drawer. I've got a Basic Grey drawer, KI drawer, American Crafts etc. So far working out well.

Do I like it? Sure. It's really worked out well for us. Looks good and contains a lot of mess when the doors are closed. We've got it now in two other places of the house. Show you where and how they are being used later this week. And if you have any questions, please ask. Promise to answer. No waiting around for that perfect scraproom any more.:)

Handcut paperpiecing raised up with foam dimensionals made me sit up and take notice. Very well done akbear!

From the Boards

Inspiring Layouts

A page that is as messy and full (in a good way!) as her schedule.

Journaling worth reading on this Mother's Day weekend.

The folded-school-note is a new look. Goes well with the origami animals.

Those circles are handcut. Lovely.

Balloon pictures just beg to get saturated with color.

Try This!

Line a shape with multi-colored brads.

Very cool! Use a negative piece from a sheet of chipboard.

Use half a label as a tab off the top of a page.

Easy off center circle accents.

Stamp your title three times without reinking.

I want to break out my heart punch and give this idea a whirl.

Take your merit badges off your sash and put them on a page. Somebody was a very good little girl scout.:)

Break up your journaling around your photo.

Just for Fun

Somebody's been watching mommy take scrapbook photos. Too sweet.

Love this twist on the NSD project! A lot of thought with into it.

Oh my! Break these photos out for his first girlfriend!

Good luck ladies! Looks like lots of fun! Here's the official thread.

Funny and cute (and I mean the guy!)

Add Your Two Cents

Tools for chipboard...what are your favs?

High gas prices. Making you get more scrapping done or are you going nowhere interesting to necessitate new photos:)?

What's challenging you lately?

why do I have so many supplies?!?!? Simple. My honest answer, I get bored and like to shop! HA!

Crazy for Product

Liking those alphabet stamps by Stampin' Up.

Can we come over?

New punched paper borders by Making Memories.

What products do you find to be in the same genre as Basic Grey?

Quoteable

Cute motto for digi..."the adhesive never dries!"

FYI

Artist trading card (ATC) info.

Use that BG magnetic mat just for cutting. Yep, punched two holes in mine!

How's this for a great idea? No only is the layout inspiring with the choice of elements (must find some masking tape to recreate this look), but the idea of water painting is one I'm going to have to remember here in a few years! Thanks for a laugh this morning digigrandma!

Just a day late:).

A funny story. You all know I've been having a lot of fun lately with the stamped cards. Just where my creative joy seems to be at the moment. This morning I created the two blue/red cards on the left. Was so darn pleased with myself, that they came downstairs with me for lunch. I was going to sit at the counter, eat my apple and peanut butter, and enjoy gazing at my handy work. Got peanut butter smudges on both of them! Arrggggh. It's hard enough stamping a card and not get any goofs or ink marks on it to go and ruin something with peanut butter. Sigh. Nothing a little Versamark couldn't fix in the end. Must remember to not mix handmade cards with food, unless I want to redo things.

Supply lists

Card 1: Stamps: Impress Rubber Stamps, Basic Grey, Papertrey Ink; Ink, Ribbon, Cardstock: Perfect Match by Papertrey Ink; Brads: Making Memories

Card 2: Stamps: Savvy Stamps, Papertrey Ink; Flowers: Doodlebug Design; Ink: Papertrey Ink and Stewart Superior

Card 3: Stamps: Hero Arts; Ink: Perfect Match by Papertrey Ink. Masked off the sentiment stamp to block out "friend" (can't see it in the photo) and replaced it with Mom.

Card 4 (also known as "Exercise in Masking"!) Stamps: Hero Arts, Northwoods Rubber Stamps, Basic Grey, Papertrey Ink; Ink: Stewart Superior and Papertrey Ink. You know how you buy stamp sets and there's 3-5 big main stamps and a lot of little ones that you don't usually use that much? Put a bunch of them to use in the stamped grid for a cohesive look.

Finding Women of Life and Women of Life Additions by Papertrey Ink to be very useful sentiment-wise. Fill like I've used them a few dozen times by this point and still loving them. Mark of a good set.

Here's proof positive that sometimes you just need to look at things from a different angle in order to get a better view. That photo is fabulous and matches well with the little girl's quote and the journaling. Well done avasmama!